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Congress demands President's rule in Punjab

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Press Trust of India Chandigarh

The party made the demand in a memorandum submitted to President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi today, a release of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) said here.

"It is with a deep sense of anguish that we would like to draw your kind attention towards total subversion of democracy and law and order in the state," the memorandum said.     

 

The party accused the SAD-BJP alliance government with having "unleashed a reign of terror and repression on activists and leaders of the Congress" since the time it assumed power in March 2007.

False cases were registered and many of them were illegally detained and brutally tortured by the Punjab Police at the instance of the SAD-BJP leaders, the Congress alleged.    

The opposition Congress also charged the SAD-BJP alliance with having indulged in booth capturing and intimidation of voters during various elections, including Municipal Corporation, Block Samiti and Zila Parishad held in the state.     

A Returning Officer was forced to commit suicide in Tarn Taran district during the recent Panchayat elections in which violence claimed three lives and left many others injured.     

"The PPCC is indeed surprised that the Governor of Punjab, who is your direct representative, has not apprised you with the ominous situation that is fast evolving in Punjab," the party said and demanded immediate imposition of President's Rule in the state.    

The signatories to the memorandum included PPCC President Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, a number of sitting and former MLAs and MPs.

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First Published: May 16 2008 | 6:51 PM IST

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